13 Apr 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Devotional Service, Dhruva Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada's Books, Teachings of Queen Kunti
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, austerities, devotional service, Dhruva Maharaja, meditating upon the form of Visnu, meditation, severe austerities and penances, Teachings of Queen Kunti, the Lord within the heart, transcendental platform of devotional service, unalloyed devotion
click on image to enlarge
Today I woke up thinking about Dhruva Maharaja. It was nothing specific, it was more just a visual picture of this small boy doing austerities in the forest and opening his eyes to discover the Lord standing directly in front of him. So I had to tax my mind…where is that picture? It was located in the Second Canto, Part Two of the original Srimad Bhagavatam. It became my morning meditation, and the following is from some of the reading I did on the life of Dhruva Mahārāja. For the full story on the life of Dhruva Mahārāja one can go to the Forth Canto, Chapter Eight of the Srimad Bhagavatam. Today we have posted the 25th Chapter from the Teachings of Queen Kunti, entitled Unalloyed Devotion.
…The incidents in the life of Dhruva Mahārāja are very attractive for devotees. From his pious actions, one can learn how one can detach himself from material possessions and how one can enhance one’s devotional service by severe austerities and penances. By hearing the activities of pious Dhruva, one can enhance one’s faith in God and can directly connect with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus one can very soon be elevated to the transcendental platform of devotional service. The example of Dhruva Mahārāja’s austerities can immediately generate a feeling of devotional service in the hearts of the hearers. (from purport to SB 4.8.8)
…When Dhruva Mahārāja was undergoing penance and meditating upon the form of Viṣṇu within his heart, the Viṣṇu form suddenly disappeared, and his meditation broke. Upon opening his eyes, Dhruva Mahārāja immediately saw Viṣṇu before him. Like Dhruva Mahārāja, we should always think of Kṛṣṇa, and when we attain perfection we shall see Kṛṣṇa before us. This is the process. We should not be too hasty. We should wait for the mature time. Of course, it is good to be eager to see Kṛṣṇa, but we should not become discouraged if we do not see Him immediately. (Teachings of Queen Kunti Chapter 25)
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11 Apr 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Guru & Disciple, guru-tattva, ISKCON, Iskcon Bangalore, ISKCON History
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, Acharya of Iskcon, Bangalore Temple Wins Court Case, initiating guru, Iskcon, ISKCON Bangalore, ISKCON Mumbai, Sri Amiya Vilas Swami, Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, Srila Prabhupada
Bangalore Temple Wins Court Case !
Karnataka High Court dismisses appeal of ISKCON Mumbai followers
Honourable High Court of Karnataka dismissed an appeal filed by some of the followers of ISKCON Mumbai on April 9th, 2015. Honourable Justice Anand Byrareddy was hearing an appeal filed by followers of ISKCON Mumbai seeking to get control of ISKCON Bangalore Society (Regn. No. S.49/78-79), claiming that they are the actual Governing body members. Earlier the same application was filed in the City Civil Court as OS 1758 of 2003 in Bangalore by ISKCON Mumbai followers and had been dismissed.
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08 Apr 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Conversation with Srila Prabhupada, Guru & Disciple, guru-tattva, Science of Self Realization
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, disciple, guru, interview with Srila Prabhupada, London Times, meditation, Saints and Swindlers, self proclaimed gods, self-styled gurus, yoga, yogi
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Saints and Swindlers
London Times Interview with Srila Prabhupada
Excerpted from the Science of Self Realization
Every day the number of people interested in practicing yoga and meditation increases by the thousands. Unfortunately, a person looking for a suitable guide is likely to encounter a bewildering array of magicians, self-styled gurus, and self-proclaimed gods. In an interview with the London Times, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains how a sincere seeker can tell the difference between a counterfeit and genuine spiritual guide.
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07 Apr 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Vyasasan das
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chastisement by the Lord, devotee of the Lord, ecstasy, mercy of the Lord, My dear Vyasa, rasa-graha, special favor, taste of the lotus feet of the Lord, the sweetness of the Lord
click on image to enlarge
There are so many beautiful verses in the Srimad Bhagavatam, and I guess everyone has his favorite. I think the following verse and purport is perhaps my very favorite, because it speaks directly to me.
My dear Vyāsa, even though a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa sometimes falls down somehow or other, he certainly does not undergo material existence like others [fruitive workers, etc.] because a person who has once relished the taste of the lotus feet of the Lord can do nothing but remember that ecstasy again and again.
A devotee of the Lord automatically becomes uninterested in the enchantment of material existence because he is rasa-graha, or one who has tasted the sweetness of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
…even though he falls down, a devotee is never to be considered the same as a fallen karmī. A karmī suffers the result of his own fruitive reactions, whereas a devotee is reformed by chastisement directed by the Lord Himself. The sufferings of an orphan and the sufferings of a beloved child of a king are not one and the same.
..Such foolish devotees are sometimes put into difficulty by the Lord Himself. As a special favor, He may remove all material paraphernalia. By such action, the bewildered devotee is forsaken by all friends and relatives, and so he comes to his senses again by the mercy of the Lord and is set right to execute his devotional service.
Full text and purport More
06 Apr 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Arrival Lecture
Tags: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Pabhupada, Arrival Lecture, Caithany Mahaprabhu, every town and village, krsna caitanya-namine, Srila Prabhupada lecture
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Arrival Lecture
Los Angeles, May 18, 1972
Hear Lecture
Prabhupada: (airport noises) (leads Prema-dhvani; says “Los Angeles bhakta-vrnda ki jaya!”) So my dear boys and girls, about six years ago I came to your country single-handed, with this pair of cymbals. Now you are so many chanting Hare Krsna. That is my success. It was the prediction of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu:
prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara hoibe mora nama
Lord Caitanya desired that “In all the towns, in as many towns and villages as there are on the surface of the globe, My name will be broadcast.” He is Krsna Himself, svayam krsna, krsna caitanya-namine, simply changing His name as Krsna Caitanya. So His prediction will never go in vain. That’s a fact. So my plan was that “I shall go to America. America is the leading country of the world. If I can convince (the) younger generation of America, they will take up.” I am old man. I came here at the age of seventy years; now I am seventy-six. So my warning is already there. In nineteen hundred and seventy-one, I had a severe heart attack. You know, all. So the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu is now in your hands. You are American boys and girls, very intelligent and graced by Krsna. You are not poverty-stricken. You have enough resources, prestige. Everything materially, you are all well-equipped. If you kindly take this Krsna consciousness movement seriously, your country will be saved, and the whole world will be saved.
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03 Apr 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Spiritual World
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, back to Godhead, Godhead, going home, Goloka Vrndavana, Krsnaloka, SB4.29.50, spiritual planets, Vaikuntha planets, Vaikunthalokas
This morning I was reading from the Srimad Bhagavatam the following verse:
Śrī Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the Supersoul and guide of all living entities who have accepted material bodies within this world. He is the supreme controller of all material activities in material nature. He is also our best friend, and everyone should take shelter at His lotus feet. In doing so, one’s life will be auspicious. (SB 4.29.50)
I was reading from the this 29th chapter, that by chanting Hare Krishna, one can become purified of all material contamination and return home, back to Godhead.
In the purport to verse 48 it is mentioned; “Generally people are not aware of their interest in life—to return home, back to Godhead. People do not know about their real home in the spiritual world. In the spiritual world there are many Vaikuṇṭha planets, and the topmost planet is Kṛṣṇaloka, Goloka Vṛndāvana. Despite the so-called advancement of civilization, there is no information of the Vaikuṇṭhalokas, the spiritual planets…The real attempt should now be to return home, back to Godhead…One should be intelligent enough to return to Godhead. One should be interested in information about the spiritual Vaikuṇṭha planets, and in particular the planet known as Goloka Vṛndāvana, and should learn the art of going there by the simple method of devotional service, beginning with hearing and chanting (śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ [SB 7.5.23]).
Full Text 50, and nice purport! More
01 Apr 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Spiritual Life
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, as it is, Bg10.10, bhagavad-gita, devoted, scholarship, spiritual advancement, Spiritual Life, tesam satata-yuktanam
This morning I was reading from the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the following verse;
teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ
yena mām upayānti te
To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.
This is one of those verses that years ago I added to my repertoire of memorized slokas, and remains today one of my favorite verses. I have come to realize, that it is not by any great knowledge or scholarship, on my part, that I will make spiritual advancement, but rather, it is by faith and devotion, that I might be able to advance spiritually.
…A person may have a bona fide spiritual master and may be attached to a spiritual organization, but still, if he is not intelligent enough to make progress, then Kṛṣṇa from within gives him instructions so that he may ultimately come to Him without difficulty. The qualification is that a person always engage himself in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and with love and devotion render all kinds of services. He should perform some sort of work for Kṛṣṇa, and that work should be with love. If a devotee is intelligent enough, he will make progress on the path of self-realization. If one is sincere and devoted to the activities of devotional service, the Lord gives him a chance to make progress and ultimately attain to Him. (from purport to Bg. 10.10)
Full Text and purport More
30 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Chanting Hare Krishna, Kali Yuga, Mantra Meditation
Tags: chant and be happy, chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Krishna, Hare Rama, Maha Mantra, mantra meditation
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“In the sastra it is said this Kali-yuga is full of faults, so many faults. It is the ocean of faults. But there is a very nice thing, asti hy eko mahan gunah, a very great quality. What is that? Kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet [SB 12.3.51]. If you simply chant Hare Krishna mantra, then you become perfect. Is it very difficult? Chant Hare Krishna and you become perfect. But we are so unfortunate, we are not even prepared to chant. This is our position. So you have to make little determination that ‘I shall chant henceforward Hare Krishna mantra.’ Then everything is all right.”
29 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Gallery of Images, Guru das, Photos by Gurudas, Radha Damodar Mandir, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada Conversations
Tags: Gurudas, photos by Gurudas, Photos of Srila Prabhupada, photos of Srila Prabhupada at Radha Damodara, Radha Damodara Mandir, Srila Prabhupada
Continuing with our series “Photos by Gurudas” we have some nice pictures of Srila Prabhupada at Radha Damodara Mandir in India.
We have also included the following pictures as full size images as well as in a slidshow format.
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28 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Rama, Srimad Bhagavatam
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bharata, Laksmana, Lord Ramacandra, Maharaja Dasratha, mother Sita, Rama, Ramayana, Ravana kidnapped Sita, Satrughnna, Sita, Srimad Bhagavatam, the Absolute Truth Himself, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, visnu-tattva
In honor of the Appearance day of Lord Ramacandra, we are posting the entire tenth chapter from the ninth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam entitled “The Pastimes of the Supreme Lord, Rāmacandra”.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Canto Nine, Chapter Ten
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17 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, as it is, Banyan tree, bhagavad-gita, material world, reflection of reality, Spiritual world, Vedas, Vedic hymns
We will be away traveling for a short time and will be away from our computer, but we leave you with this nice image and a verse from Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita. Hare Krishna!
…In the Fifteenth Chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā, the real picture of the material world is given. It is said there:
“The Supreme Lord said: There is a banyan tree which has its roots upward and its branches down, and the Vedic hymns are its leaves. One who knows this tree is the knower of the Vedas.” (Bg. 15.1)
Here the material world is described as a tree whose roots are upwards and branches are below. We have experience of a tree whose roots are upward: if one stands on the bank of a river or any reservoir of water, he can see that the trees reflected in the water are upside down. The branches go downward and the roots upward. Similarly, this material world is a reflection of the spiritual world. The material world is but a shadow of reality. In the shadow there is no reality or substantiality, but from the shadow we can understand that there is substance and reality. In the desert there is no water, but the mirage suggests that there is such a thing as water. In the material world there is no water, there is no happiness, but the real water of actual happiness is there in the spiritual world. (from Introduction to the Bhagavad-gita As It Is)
Full Text and Purport to text 15.1 More
14 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead
Tags: Back to Godhead Magazine, hippi, hippies, Lust and greed are a disease, protest, reaction, Rejection
The Supreme Proprietor, The Supreme Enjoyer, The Supreme Friend
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Excerpted from Back to Godhead Magazine
Unless we understand the father, how can we live as brothers?
This conversation with a journalist took place at the Hare Krsna center in London in 1971.
Srila Prabhupada: I have experienced that in my childhood there were not so many problems in India. But now India is faced with so many problems on account of imitating Western civilization.
Reporter: Not simply because of the increased population?
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13 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Prasadam, Vegetarian Cooking, Vegetarianism
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhpada, BTG, Krishna prasadam, Krsna prasadam, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, non-vegetarian, vegetarian, vegetarian diet
The following excerpt from a letter written by Srila Prabhupada was circulated on Facebook last week, and my wife read it aloud to me. It was very informative in that it explained our position on vegetarian vs. non-vegetarian, and the benefits of eating Krsna prasadam (food offered first to the Lord).
…Regarding propaganda against animal slaughter in BTG. Please do not print any picture showing how a cow is being murdered in our BTG. This will pollute the whole atmosphere. We are not meant for moving anyone’s sentiment against animal slaughter, we are neither Buddhists or Jains, whose main propaganda is against animal slaughter. Even the so-called vegetarians who do not take Krishna prasadam are as much sinful as the non-vegetarians. Our propaganda is different, to make people Krishna Conscious, which automatically makes them sympathetic against any kind of animal slaughter. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam, one living entity subsists on the life of other living entities, either vegetarian or non-vegetarian. But we are neither of them. We are not vegetarian nor non-vegetarian. We are transcendental. We are concerned with Krishna Prasadam. Try to popularize Krishna Prasadam as you have already done. People will naturally become vegetarian without any ghastly propaganda.
full letter More
10 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Conversation with Srila Prabhupada
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bhagavad-gita, Krsna Arjuna, Srila Prabhupada
click on image to enlarge
When Lord Caitanya was traveling in South India…He saw one brāhmaṇa was reading Bhagavad-gītā. And people were joking him, “Oh, Mr. brāhmaṇa, how you are reading Bhagavad-gītā?” Because they were the neighbors, they knew that this brāhmaṇa was illiterate and he was studying Bhagavad-gītā. So they were joking. But the brāhmaṇa did not car. He was taking the book and in his own way he was reading.
Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw this incident, He came to the brāhmaṇa. So He asked the brāhmaṇa, “My dear brāhmaṇa, what you are reading?”
So he could understand “This persons is not joking with me; He is serious.”
So he explained, “My dear sir, I am reading Bhagavad-gītā. Unfortunately, I am illiterate. I do not know even the alphabets.”
“Why you are reading Bhagavad-gītā?”
So he said that, “My spiritual master knows that I am illiterate, but still, he has asked me to read Bhagavad-gītā. What can I do? Therefore I have taken this book. I am seeing simply. I do not know how to read.”
“Oh, that’s all right. You cannot read. But I see that you are crying. How you are crying if you are not reading?”
“Yes, I am crying. Of course, there is cause.”
“What is that?”
“As soon as I take this Bhagavad-gītā, I remember Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is sitting as driver and Arjuna is hearing. I have heard the story. I know something of the instruction but cannot read. So as soon as I take this book, this picture comes before me and I simply think, ‘Oh, how Kṛṣṇa is nice that He has become a charioteer of His devotee. He is so great. Still, He has accepted a menial service of His devotee.’ This gives me so much pleasure that I cry.”
Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced him, “Your Bhagavad-gītā reading is perfect. You have taken the essence.” So this is the thing. If you simply remember Kṛṣṇa is teaching Arjuna and Arjuna is hearing, if you simply remember the picture, that is sufficient. Even if you think that you cannot read. (Bhagavad-gita talks with Srila Prabhupada 11/25/1968)
Full Conversation More
07 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Book Distribution, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Iskcon Bangalore, Madhu Pandit das
Tags: Book Distribution, ISKCON Bangalore, Madhu Pandit Das, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada's books
I am always happy to see Srila Prabhupada’s books being distributed. When I saw this book distribution report on facebook, I couldn’t help but post it here. ISKCON Bangalore seems to be doing an outstanding job distributing these transcendental books, and in 5 different languages as well! Very inspiring. Glories to all of Srila Prabhupada’s book distributors. Hare Krishna!
Over 78000 Copies of Gita Distributed During Book Marathon
The book marathon program of ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna temple, Bangalore which commenced on 7th Dec 2014 during the auspicious occasion of Gita Jayanti, went on till 8th Feb 2015 and concluded with a prize distribution ceremony on 15th Feb, 2015.
Book distribution is one of the major activities of ISKCON centers around the world as it was the desire of Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of ISKCON to spread the teachings of Vedic literature all over the world by distributing his books to the people at large as ordered by his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura. In fact, Srila Prabhupada considered it as his life and soul. He instructed, guided and encouraged his disciples to engage in book distribution more and more and that would please him very much.
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07 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Holy Places of Pilgrimage, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, New Vrindavan
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, God consciousness community, krsna consciousness, letter to Kirtananda Swami, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, New Vrindaban, transcendental loving service of the Lord that is the highest perfectional platform, Vrindavan
Prabhupada’s Vision for New Vrindaban: Holy Pilgrimage
Letters by Srila Prabhupada
“Therefore, I may once more request you to try your best to construct New Vrindaban an exact duplicate of Vrindaban, and that will give me the highest pleasure.” – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Kirtanananda, February 18, 1970.
Full Letter More
07 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Hansadutta das, Sivananda das, The Hare Krishna Movement
Tags: Europe Krsna consciousness, hansadutta das, Iskcon, Krishna consciousness, Lord Caitanya's mission, Mahabhrata, sankirtan, Sivananda das, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, temple in Germany, the Hare Krishna Movement in Germany
Sivananda Prabhu
Temple in Germany
Bringing the Holy Name to Germany
by Hamsaduta Dasa
Excerpted from; German ‘Back To Godhead’ Magazine
click on above link to view the original German Back to Godhead Magazines. Great Site!
In August of 1968, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada introduced Krsna consciousness to the European continent. At that time Srila Prabhupada was visiting the Montreal, Canada, branch of his newly founded ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness). The leading devotee of the Montreal Center, Sivananda dasa brahmacari, approached Srila Prabhupada and informed him that he had saved a thousand dollars that he had intended to use for his enrollment at London University. As a surrendered soul, Sivananda offered to engage this money directly in the service of his spiritual master. He submitted to Srila Prabhupada that he no longer felt that the best use of the money was to finance his education at the university, but he suggested that he might be allowed to go to Europe to open the way there for Krsna consciousness.
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05 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Siksastakam, Srimad Bhagavatam
Tags: Appearance of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Krsna, Lord Caitanya, o govinda, Vrndavana
Today marks the appearance of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the great apostle of love of God and the father of the congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord. In honor of His Appearance we share with you “A Short Sketch of the Life and Teachings of Lord Caitanya”, which Srila Prabhupada has included in the introduction to the Srimad Bhagavatam.
In the modern age Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu preached the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by practical demonstration. It is easier to penetrate into the topics of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam through the medium of Śrī Caitanya’s causeless mercy. Therefore a short sketch of His life and precepts is inserted herein to help the reader understand the real merit of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
It is imperative that one learn the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from the person Bhāgavatam. The person Bhāgavatam is one whose very life is Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in practice. Since Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Absolute Personality of Godhead, He is both Bhagavān and Bhāgavatam in person and in sound. Therefore His process of approaching the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is practical for all people of the world. It was His wish that the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam be preached in every nook and corner of the world by those who happened to take their birth in India.
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